No wonder the US has such a huge deficit

Hank Schouten at Stuff reports:

United States embassy staff are to be protected behind blast walls built as part of a major upgrade of the Wellington complex, costing up to $60 million.

The walls, designed to protect against missiles and bomb blasts, will further beef up security at what is already one of the most heavily protected diplomatic posts in New Zealand.

They’re spending $60 million on walls to protect against missiles??

I have to say I don’t see a lot of missiles in Thorndon.

Embassy spokesman David Edginton said the upgrade work followed a seismic-risk assessment.

Whenever work was being done at an embassy, the State Department required it be brought up to worldwide standards for safety and security.

It’s their money, but personally I think it is rather stupid. The security needs in Thorndon are rather different to Kabul.

The State Department’s bureau of overseas building operations is looking for suitable contractors.

Good for the NZ economy though!